Sarah Brown launches major new study

There has been a host of interest in the Theirworld Edinburgh Birth Cohort. Clockwise from left: BBC news, STV news, The Times, The National, Herald Scotland, The Courier.

 

On Monday Sarah Brown, founder and President of Theirworld, spoke to a gathered audience of supporters, doctors, nurses and scientists to announce plans for the next big step for Theirworld and the Jennifer Brown Research Laboratory – theTheirworld Edinburgh Birth Cohort. Sarah said

“This is a unique project which will help give babies the chance of the best start in life and Theirworld is proud to fund it. Since the formation of the Jennifer Brown Research Laboratory 12 years ago, we have been strong supporters of the ground-breaking work of the brilliant young scientists there. Now this new Theirworld project opens up the opportunity to really study the long-term effects of early birth to enhance learning and develop new approaches to help babies with a vulnerable start in life. We are so grateful to the families generously giving their time with their precious babies to share information and contribute to this study over the coming years.”

© Jane Barlow 2015 (all rights reserved)

Dr James Boardman, Scientific Director at the Jennifer Brown Research Laboratory, described the impressive achievements of the Laboratory to date and outlined future plans for researchers to follow 400 newborns from birth to adulthood. The team hopes to further understanding of how being born too soon affects health in later life by following these babies over the course of their lives.

“We are here to celebrate Theirworld’s significant contribution to the Jennifer Brown Research Laboratory for more than a decade and to launch this exciting new study – the Theirworld Edinburgh Birth Cohort.”

                Dr James Boardman, Scientific Director at the Jennifer Brown Research Laboratory

The new study was endorsed by University of Edinburgh Principal, Sir Timothy O’Shea, who recognised the extensive research work that Theirworld has already supported at the Jennifer Brown Research Laboratory.

Professor Neena Modi, President of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and a leader in the field of perinatal research, heralded the Theirworld Edinburgh Birth Cohort for its potential benefits not just for newborns but “for all humanity, across the life course”.